Orthopedic Surgery Clinical Faculty

Edward N. Hanley, Jr., MD

Chairman of Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Undergraduate School: Dartmouth CollegeMedical School: University of VermontResidency: University of PittsburghFellowship: University of Pittsburgh

Dr. Hanley, chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, is also a Clinical Professor of Surgery/Adjunct Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Hanley has served as president of the Academic Orthopaedic Society, the Cervical Spine Research Society, the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine and the American Orthopaedic Association. He’s a former chair of the Committee on the Spine for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He currently serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, a member of the FDA advisory panel, and a study section member of the Data Safety Monitoring Board at the NIH/NIAMS Multi-disciplinary Clinical Research Center. Dr. Hanley’s clinical and research interests are primarily in the area of spinal diseases and their treatment. He has spoken extensively on these subjects in the United States and around the world, and has authored over 200 articles on orthopedic topics. View Dr. Hanley full profile.

Michael J. Bosse, MD

Director of Orthopedic Trauma Service; Director of Orthopedic Clinical Research

Dr. Bosse specializes in the treatment of traumatic musculoskeletal conditions and complications resulting from injury. He is past president of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) and is actively involved in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA). Dr. Bosse is a leader in clinical research of traumatic injuries of the musculoskeletal system and has published extensively in this area. He directs an active research program, as a Co-Primary Investigatory and Clinical Chair of the Major Extremity Trauma Consortium (METRC), aimed at developing multi-institutional studies on complex injuries. Current research interests include outcomes following major extremity injury, treatment of open fractures and pelvic/acetabular fracture reconstruction. In 2003, Dr. Bosse received the prestigious Kappa Delta Award for his multi-center study on severe lower extremity injuries. View Dr. Bosse full profile.

Dr. Brighton grew up in Barnegat, NJ, and attended Boston University. He graduated with a BS in Health Sciences (Magna Cum Laude) in 1997. He graduated Cum Laude and Alpha Omega Alpha from Boston University School of Medicine in 2002 with his MD as well as an MPH (Master's Degree of Public Health) from Boston University School of Public Health. Dr. Brighton completed residency at Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH and fellowship at the Children's Hospital Boston. He received a Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) Research Grant in 2007 to perform outcomes research in pediatric orthopedics. He is interested in scoliosis and spinal deformity, pediatric trauma, and quality improvement indicators in healthcare. He lives in Charlotte with his wife Erin and three children, Quinn, Julia, and Noelle. View Dr. Brighton full profile.

Dr. Hsu hails from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was an Honor Graduate from the United States Military Academy in 1994 and then went on to receive his medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine. Dr. Hsu completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Tulane University and Charity Hospital in New Orleans, LA. He subsequently pursued a fellowship in orthopedic trauma and adult reconstruction at Tulane University and Charity Hospital. Dr. Hsu also completed Limb Salvage/Reconstruction fellowships in the Ilizarov Method in Lecco, Italy and at the Kurgan Ilizarov Center in Kurgan, Russia. He was deployed in 2006 to Baghdad, Iraq with the 10th Combat Support Hospital at Ibn Sina Hospital. Along with Dr. Bosse, he is an active investigator in the Major Extremity Trauma Consortium (METRC). View Dr. Hsu full profile.

Dr. Karunakar specializes in the treatment of traumatic musculoskeletal conditions, fractures and complications. He is actively involved in the Orthopaedic Trauma Association, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and the American Orthopaedic Association. Dr. Karunakar’s clinical research interests are vast and include outcomes of traumatic acetabulum injuries, outcomes of orthopedic trauma patients with hyperglycemia and obesity, and prognostic factors for common orthopedic complications. His research has been recognized at the annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He has contributed many book chapters to the orthopedic trauma literature and also serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma. View Dr. Karunakar full profile.

Dr. Kneisl specializes in the treatment of tumors of the musculoskeletal system. He is Director of Musculoskeletal Oncology in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Carolinas Medical Center and Medical Director for Surgical Services at the Levine Cancer Institute. Dr. Kneisl is a member of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, the Society for Surgical Oncology, the Children’s Oncology Group and the International Society for the Study of Limb Salvage. He specializes in the area of bone and soft tissue tumors and serves as leader of the Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Group, coordinating multidisciplinary care for patients with these complex conditions. View Dr. Kneisl full profile.

David R. Mauerhan, MD

Dr. Mauerhan began his orthopedic practice and affiliation with Carolinas Medical Center in 1983. He rejoined the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at CMC in 2002 after returning from his CMC sponsored post as chairman of surgery and chief of orthopedic surgery at Zayed Military Hospital in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Dr. Mauerhan specializes in adult reconstruction and total joint replacement. He has developed several implants used in total hip and total knee replacement surgeries, and has lectured and published articles on these topics internationally. He has served as the chairman of the Board of Councilors of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and as president of the Society for Arthritic Joint Surgery. He currently serves as Chairman of the Quality Committee of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons and is a member of the AMA Physicians Consortium for Performance Improvement. View Dr. Mauerhan full profile.

Dr. Patt specializes in musculoskeletal oncology and spine surgery. In addition to his clinical responsibilities, Dr. Patt serves as the residency program director for the orthopedic surgery residency program. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society and AO Spine International. Dr. Patt earned his master's degree in public health from the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. He is also the co-Director of the Carolinas Medical Center Geriatric Fragility Fracture Program. His primary research interests are clinical outcomes in oncology, spinal tumors and geriatric hip fracture outcomes. He has published six peer reviewed journal articles, nine book chapters and has done scientific presentations at multiple regional and national meetings. Dr. Patt's clinical practice includes the treatment and evaluation of sarcomas, as well as the comprehensive management of spinal disorders with a particular interest in traumatic and oncologic diagnoses. View Dr. Patt full profile.

Brian Scannell, MD

Undergraduate School: University of GeorgiaMedical School: University of North Carolina at Chapel HillResidency: Carolinas Medical Center Fellowship: Pediatric Orthopedics, Rady Children's Hospital of San Diego

Raised in Charlotte, Dr. Scannell graduated with Honors from the University of Georgia. There he was a NCAA All-American swimmer and competed in the 2000 Olympic Trials before returning to his home state and received his medical degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While there, he met his wife who is a pediatrician. He completed his residency, which included participation in the year-long research fellowship, at Carolinas Medical Center. Most recently, he completed a fellowship in pediatric orthopedics at Rady Children's Hospital of San Diego. He has a wide range of pediatric clinical interests including trauma, spine, hip disorders, and lower extremity deformity. He has been active in research throughout his career and plans to continue this upon his return to CMC. He also has great interest in residency education.

Stephen H. Sims, MD

Undergraduate School: Clemson University Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina Residency: Medical College of Virginia Fellowship: Orthopedic Trauma, Switzerland

Dr. Sims specializes in the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and fractures. He teaches surgical techniques for the treatment of such injuries throughout the world, and has served as course director on many occasions for educational activities throughout North America. He is an active member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Orthopaedic Association and the Orthopaedic Trauma Association. Dr. Sims’ clinical research has contributed extensively to the orthopedic trauma literature. View Dr. Sims full profile.

Kelly VanderHave, MD

Undergraduate School: Cornell UniversityMedical School: University of CincinnatiResidency: University of MichiganFellowship: Pediatric Orthopedics, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children

Dr. VanderHave specializes in pediatric orthopedics. She received her medical degree from University of Cincinnati and her orthopedic residency at the University of Michigan. She then went on to pursue a fellowship in pediatric orthopedics at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas, Texas. Her areas of expertise include spinal deformity, hip dysplasia, sports injury, pediatric trauma, and brachial plexus injuries. View Dr. VanderHave full profile.

OrthoCarolina Faculty

Robert Anderson, MD

Chief of Foot and Ankle Service

Undergraduate School: University of Mississippi Medical School: Medical College of WisconsinResidency:Carolinas Medical CenterFellowship: Foot and Ankle, Medical College of Wisconsin

Dr. Anderson is the founding orthopedic surgeon of the O.L. Miller Foot and Ankle Institute of OrthoCarolina in Charlotte, North Carolina, practicing there since 1989. His fellowship training was in foot and ankle disorders, with Dr. John Gould, with a large experience in sport related injuries. He serves as a consultant to a number of NFL/NBA/NHL/MLB teams and colleges. He is the foot and ankle consultant to MLB Umpires Division and has served as a team orthopedist to the Carolina Panthers since 2000. He serves as the Chairman of the Foot and Ankle Subcommittee for the NFL. Additional appointments include Chief of Foot and Ankle Service at the Carolinas Medical Center, co-director of the Fellowship Program at OrthoCarolina, and vice-chief of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at OrthoCarolina. He is a past president of the medical staff of Carolinas Medical Center with 1700 physician members. Dr. Anderson is also a past president of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society. Research appointments include editor-in-chief of techniques in foot and ankle surgery; associate editor/reviewer for JBJS, JAAOS, AJSM and numerous other peer-review publications. He has authored numerous other book chapters and manuscripts. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and attended the University of Mississippi. He completed his medical degree at the Medical College of Wisconsin (formerly Marquette School of Medicine). He is married and has three sons. Dr. Anderson’s hobbies include golf and return visits to the beautiful lakes of his home state.

Virginia Casey, MD

Undergraduate School: University of North CarolinaMedical School: University of OklahomaResidency: University of UtahFellowship: Pediatric Orthopedics and Scoliosis, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children

Dr. Casey brings to her practice a strong background in all areas of children's orthopedic conditions, from simple strains to complex reconstructive hip surgery. She treats children of all ages, including newborns, adolescents and young adults. Her special interest is in hip disorders. Dr. Casey earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her medical degree from the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. After completing her residency at the University of Utah's Department of Orthopaedics, Dr. Casey began her specialization in pediatric orthopedics by completing a fellowship at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas, Texas. Academic achievements range from awards for outstanding resident research to excellence in academic performance and potential for contributions in the field of medicine. In her spare time, Dr. Casey enjoys spending time with her husband, Kevin, and their two children, Turner and Claire. She stays active by biking, hiking and camping.

Christopher Chadderdon, MD

Dr. Chadderdon brings with him the expertise of Dartmouth Medical School and the Philadelphia Hand Center at Thomas Jefferson University, where he received valuable training and experience in orthopedic hand surgery. Dr. Chadderdon's research interests include gene therapy. He has contributed to several publications throughout his career and his award winning work has been published in international journals of orthopedic medicine.

Dr. Clark earned his bachelor's degree with honors from the University of Rochester. Moving on to the nation's capital, he attended the Georgetown University School of Medicine to obtain a degree in medicine. Dr. Clark has a solid record of naval service with 10 years of active duty spanning from 1997-2007. His military career included a tour in Iraq along with stints in Maryland, VA and South Carolina. He served as a General Medical Officer before specializing in orthopedic surgery and completed his surgical residency at the National Naval Medical Center of Bethesda, Maryland. His free time is centered on spending time with his wife, Cynthia, and their two children, Alexis and Grant.

Bruce E. Cohen, MD

Undergraduate School: University of North Carolina at Chapel HillMedical School: Medical College of GeorgiaResidency:Carolinas Medical Center Fellowship: Foot and Ankle, Medical College of Wisconsin and American Sports Medicine Institute

After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Medical College of Georgia, the Atlanta native performed fellowships in foot and ankle surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin and the American Sports Medicine Institute. Prior to his return to Charlotte, Dr. Cohen served as an orthopedic surgeon in Tallahassee, Florida. Dr. Cohen and his colleagues are leaders in the education of foot and ankle disorders. He also serves as an editor for several acclaimed orthopedic journals.

Patrick Connor, MD

Dr. Connor came to Charlotte in 1996 and was the region's first physician to be fellowship and specialty-trained in both shoulder and elbow surgery. Dr. Connor is the head team physician for the Carolina Panthers, the Charlotte Knights and Joe Gibbs Racing, Inc. In addition to treating Charlotte-area patients, he is a recognized regional and national expert in the areas of arthroscopic and reconstructive shoulder and elbow surgery, sports medicine, and arthroscopic and reconstructive knee surgery. Actively involved in resident and fellow education, Dr. Connor is also a leader in orthopedic research and development and serves on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery and the American Journal of Sports Medicine. His knowledge and expertise are vital in the evolution of surgical techniques such as hamstring ACL reconstruction, arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery, elbow arthroscopy, and shoulder and elbow replacement surgery. Dr. Connor has been a tennis professional with over seven years of experience in instruction, and was formerly ranked in the top 10 in the NCAA Division I Men's Tennis.

Since joining Miller Orthopaedic Clinic in 1989 (now OrthoCarolina), Dr. D'Alessandro has been a leading sports medicine physician in the orthopedic community specializing in arthroscopic and reconstructive knee surgery, sports medicine and shoulder and elbow surgery. He has been an innovator in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, bioresorbable suture anchors and advancing the "newest" techniques in ACL reconstruction. From 1994 to 2001, Dr. D'Alessandro served as the first team physician for the NFL's Carolina Panthers. Today, he serves as team physician for Davidson College, MLL Charlotte Hounds and Charlotte Country Day School, as well as assistant team physician for Hendrick Motorsports. He has been recognized for meritorious community service by the North Carolina Athletic Trainers Association in 1997, when he received the Sports Medicine Person of the Year Award. In 2000 he earned the Walt Disney Award, which recognized his 10-plus years of service for his medical staff volunteer work with Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. In 1991, Dr. D'Alessandro was named Chief of Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery at Carolinas Medical Center, where he is actively involved in training future orthopedic surgeons. Recognized as a leader in his field, he has published numerous papers and lectures nationally on topics concerning knee and shoulder surgery. He also serves as the medical advisor for OrthoCarolina Physical Therapy and Sports Performance, and participates in planning and leading educational courses for physical therapists and athletic trainers in the region. He and his wife, Sally, live in Charlotte where they've raised their sons, Bill, Tommy and Dave, and are active in community service and recreational athletics.

Bruce V. Darden II, MD

Dr. Darden specializes in the treatment of spine injuries. His areas of expertise include cervical spine surgery, lumbar spine surgery, disc herniation, and cervical disc replacement. Dr Darden received his medical degree from UNC- Chapel Hill. He completed his residency at Carolinas Medical Center and went on to pursue a fellowship in orthopedic spine surgery at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Dr. Darden is a member of the Cervical Spine Research Society, the North American Spine Society, the Spine Society of Europe and the Scoliosis Research Society. He is the President-Elect of the Cervical Spine Research Society for 2012-2013. In 2010, he was named as one of the ’50 Best Spine Specialists in America’ by Becker’s ASC Review.

W. Hodges Davis, MD

Undergraduate School: Duke University Medical School: Tulane University Residency: Tulane University Fellowship: Foot and Ankle, Hospital for Special Surgery

When Dr. Davis chose medicine as his profession, he was following in some big footsteps. A third-generation physician, Dr. Davis grew up observing his grandfather, a family practice physician and dermatologist for 50 years, and his father, a cardiovascular surgeon, taking care of people in times of need. His family's dedication and example, along with his own desire to help find solutions for difficult problems, has motivated Dr. Davis throughout his career. A specialist in foot and ankle surgery, Dr. Davis is also a foot and ankle consultant for multiple regional and national dance companies. He is a former assistant orthopedic consultant for the New York City Ballet. A father of five boys, Dr. Davis also donates his time during each fall providing medical care for local high school football teams. He has published dozens of articles and book chapters and edits a peer-reviewed journal. He has also delivered over 100 presentations, both nationally and internationally, on topics ranging from shoe wear to surgery for foot deformities and trauma. Dr. Davis and his colleagues are involved in the development of leading-edge technologies and techniques for foot and ankle surgery.

As an award winning surgeon, with over 15 years of research experience, Dr. Ellington has two patents pending and is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Biology at UNC Charlotte. Dr. Ellington completed his residency at Carolinas Medical Center and is a past CMC research fellow. He is also active in teaching orthopedic residents and fellows at CMC. He spends time with local junior high and high schools teaching about trauma prevention. Dr. Ellington is the Head Team Physician for the Charlotte Copperheads. He is active in orthopedic research as a member of the board of directors at the OrthoCarolina Research Institute, and a reviewer for the Journal of Foot and Ankle International in addition to many active research projects. His clinical interest include lower extremity deformity correction, trauma and fracture care, foot and ankle arthroscopy, cartilage preservation techniques, and arthritis management of the foot and ankle, including ankle replacement.

Erika Gantt, MD

Undergraduate School: University of North Carolina at Chapel HillMedical School: Harvard University Residency: New York and Presbyterian Hospital (internship), Hospital for Special Surgery Fellowship: Hand, Upper Extremity and Microvascular Surgery, Duke University

A native of Charlotte, Dr. Gantt graduated as a Morehead scholar from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She received her medical degree at Harvard Medical School. She was an intern at the New York and Presbyterian Hospital, and completed her residency at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. Before returning to Charlotte to practice, she completed a fellowship in hand and microvascular surgery at Duke University under the direction of Dr. James Urbaniak. Her areas of practice include hand, wrist and elbow injuries and arthritic conditions of the hand and wrist. She has expertise in microvascular surgery. Dr. Gantt has served as a medical volunteer in Barbados, West Indies, Ghana and most recently in Haiti in 2011. She has an interest in the delivery of orthopedic care in resource-poor countries. In her spare time Dr. Gantt enjoys spending time with her family, running, playing tennis, and knitting.

Glenn Gaston, MD

Chief of Hand Service

Undergraduate School: University of GeorgiaMedical School: University of Tennessee at MemphisResidency: Atlanta Medical Center Fellowship: Hand and Upper Extremity, The Indiana Hand Center

Dr. R. Glenn Gaston earned his bachelor's degree with honors from the University of Georgia where he was also inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He then returned to his home state of Tennessee where he received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine at Memphis. His internship and orthopedic surgery residency were completed at the Atlanta Medical Center where he served on the hospital ethics committee as well. He was awarded a distinguished hand surgery fellowship at the Indiana Hand Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. He currently serves as chief of hand service for the department of orthopedic surgery at Carolinas Medical Center and is an active staff member at all area hospitals. Dr. Gaston is heavily involved in upper extremity research and has received numerous honors, including awards from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) and American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH). He lectures regularly at both regional and national upper extremity conferences. Dr. Gaston serves as the hand consultant for the Carolina Panthers and NASCAR. He was recently named one of the top 45 hand surgeons in the U.S. by Becker’s ASC. Dr. Gaston enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife, their two sons and daughter. He is an avid golfer and fisherman.

Dr. Hamid specializes in treating disorders of the shoulder and elbow. Dr. Hamid completed his residency at Carolinas Medical Center and his fellowship training in shoulder and elbow surgery at the esteemed Shoulder and Elbow Center at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. He also traveled to Nice, France for further training in advanced arthroscopic shoulder surgery and complex shoulder reconstruction. He has published several scientific articles and book chapters pertaining to rotator cuff disease, shoulder arthritis, and post-traumatic elbow disorders. He currently serves as a scientific reviewer for the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery.

James Fleischli, MD

Dr. Fleischli is a board and sub-specialty certified surgeon. After choosing to focus his career on sports-related injuries, Dr. Fleischli spent a yearlong fellowship working with Dr. James Andrews, learning leading techniques in arthroscopic surgery. After completing his fellowship, he began his practice where he specializes in sports medicine, shoulder and elbow surgery and knee reconstructive surgery. Dr. Fleischli regularly engages in teaching orthopedic residents and fellows. He is the Director of OrthoCarolina’s Sports Medicine / Shoulder & Elbow Fellowship Program. He is actively involved in research related to sports medicine and his areas of interest include arthroscopic shoulder surgery, ligament reconstruction and new techniques for treating cartilage disorders, such as cartilage and meniscus transplantation. In addition, Dr. Fleischli functions as the head team physician for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) and as team physician for the Charlotte Knights. He also is the team physician of several high schools in Charlotte, and coordinates medical coverage for public high school football in Mecklenburg County. He and his wife Kimmery, enjoy free time with their three children; Emily, Alex and Annie.

Carroll Jones, MD

Undergraduate School: University of North Carolina at Chapel HillMedical School: Medical College of GeorgiaResidency: University of North Carolina at Chapel HillFellowship: Foot and Ankle, Michael Coughlin Fellowship in Boise Idaho

A native of Atlanta, Dr. Jones received a bachelor's degree in biology with highest honors from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. His training continued at the Medical College of Georgia, where his passion for surgery and anatomy inspired him to pursue a career in orthopedics. He completed his orthopedic residency at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a fellowship in foot and ankle surgery with Michael Coughlin, MD, in Boise, Idaho. Dr. Jones is a member of the nationally recognized O.L. Miller Foot and Ankle Institute and has become an expert in new techniques for the management of complex deformities.

Daniel R. Lewis, MD

Undergraduate School: Youngstown State UniversityMedical School: Medical College of Ohio Residency: Michigan State University Fellowships: Hand and Upper Extremity, The Indiana Hand Center

As a fellowship-trained specialist, Dr. Lewis brings a wealth of knowledge to his practice as a hand specialist. His educational career began in the state of Ohio where he obtained his undergraduate and medical degree. Dr. Lewis made the Dean's List each year and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Youngstown State University. While obtaining his medical degree, Dr. Lewis developed an interest in orthopedic research and served as a Research Assistant for the Medical College of Ohio - Department of Orthopedic Surgery. His background in collecting data has served him well and he has gone on to contribute to several papers and presentations dealing with orthopedic interests. Throughout his career, Dr. Lewis has participated in extracurricular and charitable projects. By actively raising funds for both "Race for the Cure" and the Humane Societies, he has been able to give back and become a well-rounded member of the communities he supports in a medical capacity.

Bryan Loeffler, MD

Undergraduate School: University of Maryland, College ParkMedical School: University of MarylandResidency: Carolinas Medical CenterFellowships: Shoulder and Elbow, Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University; Hand and Upper Extremity, The Philadelphia Hand Center at Thomas Jefferson University

Dr. Loeffler completed his residency here at Carolinas Medical Center and is a past CMC research fellow. He went on to pursue a dual fellowship in Shoulder and Elbow and Hand and Upper Extremity at Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Loeffler specializes in the entire spectrum of hand and upper extremity disorders from the fingertips to the shoulder. He has a special interest in complex elbow conditions and peripheral nerve injuries. Dr. Loeffler has been active in clinical and basic science research, with presentations at the national and international levels. He has received research grants to fund various clinical studies as well as a basic science study on biologic solutions to improve rotator cuff healing. He has authored numerous book chapters and peer-reviewed articles on topics ranging from forearm injuries to shoulder and elbow replacement. He has also participated in two international medical missions, providing orthopaedic surgical care in underserved areas. Dr. Loeffler is a former NCAA Division I wrestler at the University of Maryland, and he remains active by running and spending time with his wife, Jennifer, and their two sons.

Dr. Masonis began practice in Charlotte in 2002. He is a graduate and former football captain of Lehigh University. He earned his medical degree, graduating summa cum laude, from Jefferson Medical College. After completing his orthopedic surgery residency at the Carolinas Medical Center, Dr. Masonis received an internationally recognized fellowship in adult hip and knee reconstruction at the London Health Sciences Center in Canada. His additional training in hip and knee preserving surgery was completed in the University of California at San Diego and Oxford University in England. He serves as the faculty chief of adult hip and knee reconstruction for the Carolinas Medical Center residency program and continues his passion as a surgeon, researcher and educator. Dr. Masonis is actively involved in clinical research and developing improved surgical techniques for hip and knee replacement surgery. He has published numerous scientific articles and authored multiple book chapters on the topics of hip joint preservation and hip replacement. His recent research has focused on the study and design of bone conserving hip surgery implants in hopes of developing a better solution for young adults with disabling hip arthritis. Outside of his professional life, Dr Masonis enjoys the North Carolina outdoors. His interests include fly-fishing, hiking and cycling.

R. Alden Milam IV, MD

Dr. Milam specializes in spine surgery. He received his medical degree from Vanderbilt University and completed his residency at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Milam went on to complete a fellowship in orthopedic spine surgery at Case Western Reserve.

Michael Paloski, DO, MBA

Undergraduate School: The Ohio State UniversityMedical School: The Ohio University College of Osteopathic MedicineResidency: Doctors Hospital, Columbus, OhioFellowship: Pediatric Orthopaedics, Johns Hopkins University

Dr. Paloski specializes in pediatric orthopedic at OrthoCarolina's Pediatric Center of Excellence. Originally from Ohio, he completed his undergraduate degree at The Ohio State University and attended the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine for his medical education. He completed a residency through the OhioHealth health system in Columbus, OH, and while in residency also completed his MBA at Franklin University. After a fellowship in pediatric orthopedics at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Dr. Paloski moved to Charlotte in 2012. His interests include scoliosis, trauma and fracture care, pediatric foot and ankle disorders, neuromuscular disorders, and skeletal dysplasias. He currently resides in Charlotte with his wife, Jennifer, and enjoys music, food, and traveling.

Dana Piasecki, MD

Dr. Dana Piasecki's medical career has taken him all over the nation. His education began with an undergraduate degree in Biology at Harvard University. He then moved south to obtain his doctorate in medicine from Vanderbilt and back north to New York to complete an orthopedic surgery residency at the esteemed Hospital for Special Surgery. Dr. Piasecki completed his Sports Medicine Fellowship at Rush University Medical Center, where he also served as Assistant Team Physician for the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bulls, and Head Team Physician for the Chicago Steel hockey squad. During his fellowship year, he instructed orthopedic surgery residents and authored more than twenty peer reviewed publications. He is currently active in cutting edge orthopedic research and serves as a surgeon educator. In addition to his professional pursuits, Dr. Piasecki has a long personal history with athletics. He is a former rower, waterpolo player, Division I NCAA swimmer, and was a member of the United States National Flatwater Sprint Kayaking Team (1996-2000). He was an U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete for two years, narrowly missing a 2000 Olympic kayaking berth and winning medals at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, U.S. National Championships, World sprint Team Trials and Canadian National Championships. He now serves as a volunteer physician for the U.S. Olympic Committee.

P. Bradley Segebarth, MD

Dr. Segebarth specializes in orthopedic spine surgery. He received his medical degree from University of Kentucky. Dr. Segebarth completed his residency at Vanderbilt University and went on to pursue a fellowship in orthopedic spine surgery at the OrthoCarolina Spine Center.

Leo R. Spector, MD

Dr. Spector specializes in orthopedic spine surgery and has been at OrthoCarolina since 2006. He completed medical school and his residency at the University of Massachusetts. Dr. Spector then went on to pursue a fellowship in orthopedic spine surgery here at the OrthoCarolina Spine Center. He specializes in adult degenerative spine and is a member of the Cervical Spine Research Society (CSRS) and Lumbar Spine Research Society (LSRS) as well as the former president of the North Carolina Spine Society (NCSS). He also currently serves as a board member on the OrthoCarolina Foundation and is on the research advisory committee for OrthoCarolina Research Institute. Dr. Spector hails from Boston and his hobbies include sailing.

Alan Ward, MD

Undergraduate School: Franklin and Marshall CollegeMedical School: University of PittsburgResidency: West Virginia UniversityFellowship: Hand and Microvascular Reconstruction, University of Louisville

At age 12, Dr. Ward knew he wanted to be a physician. As a youngster, he always enjoyed repairing and building things, so when he realized that orthopedics could "fix" people, he chose to pursue the field. As an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Ward now specializes in the repair of the hands and upper extremities. The most rewarding moment in his career came when one of his patients, a child, painted him a picture with their "new hand." Dr. Ward has been in orthopedic practice in Charlotte since 1985. His interests include hand, elbow and shoulder surgery. He recently participated in the Phase 2 and 3 speed fracture healing. Other interests include joint replacements of the wrist and hand for arthritis, peripheral nerve surgery and arthroscopic surgery. When he is not providing advanced surgical techniques or teaching orthopedic residents at Carolinas Medical Center, Dr. Ward enjoys the beach and triathlon training.

Michael Wattenbarger, MD

Chief of Pediatric Service

Undergraduate School: University of Texas Medical School: University of Texas Southwestern Residency: University of Texas SouthwesternFellowship: Pediatric Orthopedics and Scoliosis, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children

In 1996, Dr. Wattenbarger came to Charlotte and launched the region's first comprehensive pediatric orthopedic center. He enjoys treating healthy children with acute injuries as well as special-needs children who need extensive orthopedic care. Growing up in Littleton, Colo., Dr. Wattenbarger first became interested in orthopedics in the ninth grade after he broke his arm wrestling. That initial dream took a segue as he first pursued the career footsteps of his grandfather, father and brother, spending two years as a petroleum engineer. After deciding that medicine should be his chosen career, Dr. Wattenbarger attended the University of Texas Southwestern at Dallas, where he also completed his orthopedic surgery residency. Prior to joining Miller Orthopedic Clinic, he completed a fellowship under Dr. Tony Herring at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. There, he was involved in research on scoliosis and elbow fractures in children. Dr. Wattenbarger has a special interest in scoliosis and spinal reconstructive surgery in children, including thorascopic spinal surgery. He is involved in the care of children with special needs such as cerebral palsy and myelomeningocele, and children with skeletal dysplasias and other congenital problems, including congenital amputations. Dr. Wattenbarger also specializes in the treatment of clubfoot, developmental dysplasia of the hip, Perthes and other unusual childhood orthopedic problems. He is actively involved in training the orthopedic residents at Carolinas Medical Center and continues to publish and lecture on both the local and national levels. Currently, he continues his basic science work in the healing of physeal fractures.